Executive Committee

Roger Rankine

PRESIDENT

Roger works at Independent Arboricultural Services – and Arboricultural consultancy practice specialising in all aspects of tree services including transplanting of trees, tree risk assessments, tree selection and tree management. Roger’s family have been involved in all facets of the Arboricultural Industry since 2002 through owning and running a tree services business and since 2007 focusing on Arboricultural consulting. Bringing extensive experience gained from successfully working in large multinational organisations with work spanning throughout Australia and Asia, Roger balances his time as an Arborist in Independent Arboricultural Services with a young family after he and his wife Fiona welcomed their first child in April 2016.

Simon Lonsdale

VICE PRESIDENT

Simon chose a career in Arboriculture which started in 1995. Trained in the UK Simon came to Australia in 2005 to continue working as a climbing Arborist to experience new challenges. Simon is now working for Gold Coast City Council as an Arboricultural Planner Officer within City Development.

Tony Randall

SECRETARY

Tony Randall is passionate about all things trees. Tony began his career studying Forestry in 1993 and has since completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science and a Diploma in Arboriculture. He spent many years contract tree climbing before moving into local government eventually managing Parks and Gardens. Tony is currently the Managing Director of Arbor Access Australia, which advocates sustainable environmental outcomes in Arboriculture, Fauna Management and Natural Area Restoration. 

Kristi Howe

TREASURER

Since completing a Diploma in Horticulture/Arboriculture at University of Melbourne, Burnley College, I worked as a consulting arborist before relocating to Queensland to work with Caloundra City Council in 2005 as the City Arborist.  I now work with Sunshine Coast Council as Arboricultural Services Delivery Leader where I coordinate councils street tree planting program.

Kurt Brown

PAST PRESIDENT

Kurt was born into the Tree Industry in New Zealand as the son of a tree climber in the forestry. After moving to Australia in 87 Kurt’s Father started a tree company in Brisbane and he worked on and off learning basic climbing and felling as well as all Groundie duties. Kurt then started full-time climbing in 1994 and has graduated from Lopping Tree Climber through to educated Arborist

Bill Wilcock

EXECUTIVE

Bill has been an Arboricultural Consultant in Australia for over thirty years.  His work in Australia has included projects that are on the cutting edge of Arboriculture among which are large transplants, planting and maintenance strategies, and concepts development for residences among mature trees.

Ben McDonald

EXECUTIVE

Ben is the owner of Branch Creek Tree Services on the Sunshine Coast.

Ben has spent the past 22 years as a full time tree contractor specialising in tree removal and pruning. Ben currently holds his Diploma in Arboriculture and has his ISA TRAQ Qualification.